For almost forty years Mr. Stout has been a resident of Troy, Kansas, prominently identified with both its professional and horticultural interests. During the first half of his residence here he was connected with the bar and on his retirement turned his attention to the growing of fruit.

Mr. Stout was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, near Big Springs, December 10, 1824, and is a son of Walter J. and Elizabeth (Perdy) Stout, both natives of Kentucky. The grandfather, Aaron Stout, was born in New Jersey and removed to Kentucky when a lad. In April, 1844, Mr. Stout's parents went to Andrew county, Missouri, and settled on a farm, the father dying in 1885, at Downs, Kansas.

Xerxes K. Stout was educated in a private school at Big Springs, Kentucky, and was twenty years old when he accompanied his parents to Missouri. He worked on the farm and taught school for one year in Andrew county, then began the study of law, with Samuel Jones, a prominent attorney, as his preceptor, of Savannah, Missouri. In 1854 he came to Doniphan county, Kansas, and was for a time engaged in the mercantile business at Iowa Point, from which place he removed to Troy in 1862, and opened a law office, devoting his time to general law practice until 1885. Before court and jury he was a logical debater, a forceful reasoner and his arguments never failed to carry weight and seldom failed to convince. He was well versed in the various branches of jurisprudence and his comprehensive knowledge led to success in many an important trial.

Since retiring from the law Mr. Stout has turned his attention to his farm of one hundred acres, a part of which is in the corporate limits of Troy, and upon which he has a fine bearing orchard, principally of apple trees. These have produced some of the best apple crops ever raised in Doniphan county. He takes great pride in his fruit growing, finding in it a happy diversion from the cares of business life.

In 1850 Mr. Stout was married to Miss Martha Cobb, of Platte county, Missouri, a daughter of Pharoe and Martha (Todd) Cobb, formerly of Knox county, Tennessee. Her death occurred in March, 1900. Mr. Stout is a stanch Republican in politics and has held some important offices. In 1857 he was a member of the territorial legislature and in the same year was the postmaster of Iowa Point. In 1865 he was elected the county attorney of Doniphan county and was re-elected at the close of his term, serving in all four years. He was also a member of the state legislature in 1874, an extra session of which was held for the relief of settlers whose crops had been destroyed by grasshoppers.

Mr. Stout is a member of Troy Lodge, No. F. & A. M., and of Troy Lodge, No. 38, I. O. O. F. Both he and his wife for thirty years were valued members of the Presbyterian church of Troy, and for a number of years he served as trustee of that body. In all good works. this estimable couple gave substantial aid and sympathy and have ever used their influence in behalf of religion and morality. They have a pleasant home, to which their friends are always welcome.